Dominican Republic weather in May begins the rainy season for Punta Cana. It’s not an ideal month to visit Punta Cana, and Puerto Plata doesn’t fare much better.

Punta Cana and Puerto Plata are the two most popular tourist destinations in Dominican Republic. Their weather, beaches and all-inclusive resorts make them two of the most visited destinations in the Caribbean.

Punta Cana Temperatures

Average high temperature and rainfall for Punta Cana weather in May. © Scott S. Bateman

Punta Cana on the western tip of the island known as Hispaniola is the most popular tourist destination in the Dominican Republic. (Haiti and Dominican Republic share Hispaniola.) It is famous for its white sand beaches and all-inclusive resorts.

May temperatures in Punta Cana average 85 degrees Fahrenheit or 29 Celsius during the day, according to the Dominican Republic National Office of Meteorology. The average nighttime temperature is 68 Fahrenheit or 20 Celsius.

The temperatures are a little more than one degree warmer than April.

A consistent light breeze makes the temperatures feel slightly cooler.

Punta Cana Rainfall

Punta Cana normally is one of the dryer destinations on the island, but not during May.

May is a brief rainy season that eases off in June and starts climbing again from July through November during the annual Caribbean hurricane season.

Punta Cana historically averages about five inches of rain in May. By comparison, Punta Cana has three inches of rainfall a month from January through April.

In May, rain falls an average of 10 days during the month compared to about seven days each from January through April.

Puerta Plata Temperatures

Puerto Plata is on the northern side of the island. It is usually warmer and wetter than Punta Cana. But in May it is warmer and not quite as wet.

Puerto Plata temperatures in May have an average high temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit or 31 Celsius. The average low temperature is 68 Fahrenheit or 20 Celsius.

Temperatures in Puerto Plata can reach 90 degrees during the warm summer months.

Puerta Plata Rainfall

On average, Puerta Plata receives five and a half inches of rain in May, the national office of meteorology says. It rains nearly 12 days throughout the month, which is slightly more than Punta Cana.

Most of this rain occurs in the form of a light, passing shower.

Like Punta Cana, May has above average rainfall for Puerto Plata. Rainfall usually eases in June and then starts to climb again.

Should I Visit the Dominican Republic in May?

May is a warm and wet month for both Punta Cana and Puerto Plata. They both have begun their rainy seasons.

May is not the best month to visit either of these resort destinations. March and April are better choices for a combination of warm temperatures and low risk of rain.

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